Siloxane Permit and Alkanes SNAc Notice

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice (published August 3, 2024) includes several Environment notices: a ministerial condition that allows the manufacture or import of a specific siloxane chemical under controls; an agreement on greenhouse‑gas rules for Nova Scotia electricity producers opened for comment; a small change to the lists of tracked chemicals; and a Significant New Activity (SNAc) notice that requires advance notification before certain uses of a particular group of alkanes in cosmetics or consumer products.

What it does#

• Ministerial Condition No. 21885: lets the notifier make or import Siloxanes and Silicones, di‑Me, Me 3,3,3‑trifluoropropyl (CAS 115361‑68‑7) but only under specific conditions. Those include:

  • telling the government 120 days before starting manufacture in Canada and giving details about quantities, site, process, and likely releases;
  • stopping and reporting any accidental releases immediately;
  • telling anyone they transfer the chemical to about these conditions and keeping records for 5 years.
  • These conditions took effect on July 19, 2024.

• Equivalency agreement notice: the proposed Agreement on the equivalency of federal and Nova Scotia regulations for the control of greenhouse gas emissions from electricity producers in Nova Scotia is posted for public comment. Comments are accepted for 60 days from this notice. Contact: Karishma Boroowa, Electricity and Combustion Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada (email: ecd‑dec@ec.gc.ca).

• Order 2024‑87‑06‑02 Amending the Non‑domestic Substances List: deletes the entry for CAS 1538608‑23‑9 from Part I of the Non‑domestic Substances List. The order takes effect when a related Domestic Substances List order comes into force.

• Significant New Activity No. 21755: applies to alkanes, C4‑8‑branched and linear (CAS 2529890‑37‑5). It says that certain new uses are treated as “significant new activities” and require a notification to the Minister at least 90 days before starting. Specifically:

  • using the substance in the manufacture or sale (distribution) of a cosmetic or consumer product at concentrations greater than 1% by weight is a trigger;
  • there is a transitional allowance: between publication and August 10, 2025, the use is allowed without notification if the total quantity is no more than 100 kg; after August 11, 2025 the lower threshold applies and notifications are required as described.
  • The notice asks for toxicity and exposure data, including reproductive and developmental toxicity studies, among other information.

Who's affected#

• Chemical manufacturers and importers who handle Siloxanes and Silicones, di‑Me, Me 3,3,3‑trifluoropropyl (CAS 115361‑68‑7) will need to follow the new conditions and record‑keeping rules, and to notify the government before starting manufacture in Canada.
• Companies that make or sell cosmetics and other consumer products could be affected by the SNAc for alkanes, C4‑8 (CAS 2529890‑37‑5) if the substance is used above 1% by weight. Importers, formulators, and distributors should check whether they exceed the 100 kg transitional limit before August 11, 2025 or need to file a notification 90 days in advance.
• Producers and regulators in Nova Scotia and federal officials will be interested in the proposed equivalency agreement for electricity sector greenhouse‑gas rules; anyone can comment during the 60‑day period.
• Businesses that handled or tracked the substance with CAS 1538608‑23‑9 should note its removal from the Non‑domestic Substances List; the practical effect depends on the timing of the related Domestic Substances List order.

Why it matters#

• These measures give the federal government more information and control before potentially risky chemical uses expand. That helps regulators assess health and environmental risks before products reach consumers.
• For companies, the notices mean new paperwork, testing, or delays before certain manufacturing or product uses can start. This can affect timelines and costs for product development or import.
• For consumers, the SNAc is aimed at gathering safety data about a chemical that could be used in cosmetics or household products. That can influence whether a substance is allowed, restricted, or requires safety labeling later on.
• The Nova Scotia equivalency agreement could simplify rules if provincial and federal requirements are treated as equivalent, but the public has a chance to comment on whether it should proceed.